The Encyclopedia of Modern Aircraft: From Civilian Airliners to Military Superfighters

Man's fascination with flight took off in 1903 when the Wright Flyer flew for a breathtaking 12 seconds. Since then, aircraft have become much more sophisticated. Now you can discover more than 300 of the most important airplanes of the last 30 years in The Encyclopedia of Modern Aircraft. • This book details some of the finest civil and military aircraft in service today, beginning with classic 1960s commercial airliners like the Boeing 747 through the latest military wonder planes like the F-22 Raptors.• Unique specification tables provide comprehensive information on dimensions, powerplant, performance, and more.• Find out how some of the most famous planes in the sky came to fly. What inspired the F-14 Tomcat? How will the Airbus A380 change the face of commercial travel? Climb into the cockpits and design labs and see!